LANDLORD Ron Henry fears plans to demolish his pub will stop his plans to it into a community venue.

Mr Henry, who has been landlord of The Cedars pub, in Cedars Avenue, Hazlemere, for just over a year, wants the pub to be used by the whole community.

He said: "It is big enough to turn it into a restaurant and make a small bar. What I had in mind was to leaflet the whole area and get them in for a free drink and see what they want the pub to be."

Mr Henry added that the ground floor was unused space.

He said: "We have a large downstairs and we would like to open it up as a function room or keep fit or something.

"I think it could be a good community centre. Even in the morning it could be used as a creche."

But he warns he cannot make plans with the threat of demolition hanging over him and said: "I cannot plan anything at the moment.

"It is a big building and it takes a lot of upkeep. It needs a lot of money spent on it."

"All the people who come in here live in the local area and work in the area", Mr Henry added.

The owners of the site have accepted an offer from Redrow Homes.

The company has lodged a planning application to build a 31 flat, three-storey building on the site.

A Wycombe District Council spokesman said it had received more than 50 objections to the plan.

The spokesman added many objections related to the loss of the pub as a local amenity.

The plan is being dealt with under delegated powers and not by the council development control committee.